Unitary guiding and latching means for automobile hoods



Jan.'l3, 1942. w. H. KRAUSE 2,269,537

UNITARY GUIDING AND LATCHING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE HOODS Original Filed May 18, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 13, 1942. w. H. KRAUSE UNITARY GUIDING AND LATCHING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE HOODS Original Filed May 18, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w a m M W M Patented Jan. 13, 1942 v I UNITARY GUIDING AND LATCHING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE HOODS Walter H. Krause, Chicago, 11]., assignor to 'Chlcago Forging & Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application May 18, 1939, Serial No. 274,315. Divided and this application December 1, 1939, Serial No. 307,052

3 Claims. (Ci. 292-1) My invention relates to an improvement in be mounted in any suitable fashion upon the latches and has for one purpose the provision of hood I. I illustrate for example flanges 9 at each an improved latch for the closure of an automoside of the hood to which the plate 6 may be bile hood. secured by bolts ill or by any other suitable se- Another purpose is the provision of a latch ascuring means.

sembly which shall be compact, easy to manu- Any suitable adjusting slots may be provided facture, and emcient inuse. on the plate 6, as shown for example at H in linother purpose is the provision of means uni Fig, 2. Preferably the plate 6 is mounted for tarily applicable to an automobile hood and lateral adjustment, the slots being laterally or hood closure having primary latching means, sectransversely elongated, whereby the aperture '8 ondary safety latching means, and means for may be aligned with the latching means below lifting the hood closure a predetermined distance described. l2 indicates a downwardly turned in response to release of the primary latching 4 flangeadapted to receive the secondary or safety means and prior to the release of the secondary latching member below described. An additional safety latching means. l5 rearward reinforcing flange i3 may be provided.

Another purpose is the provision of improved Mounted on the lower side of the plate 6 I illusmeans for guiding the downward movement of trate a latch member M shown as formed of the hood and latching means into latching posisheet metal and mounted on or forming part of tiona lever l5 pivoted as at it for rotation about other Purposes Will appear from time to time a vertical pivot and urged by a spring I! toward in the course of the specification and claims. latching position. it is any suitable retaining The present application is a division of my comember for the lever l5 which may be secured pending application Serial No. 274,315, filed in to the bottom of the plate 6. i9 is a downwardly the United States Patent Ofiice on May 18, 1939, projecting lug on the end of the lever i5 which now Letters Patent No. 2,227,144, dated Decem- 2 is adapted to receive any suitable operating eleb 0- ment or rod 20 which terminates in any suitable I illustrate my invention more or less diagramoperating handle member diagrammatically maticallyinthe accompanying drawings wherein: shown at 2|. The member 2| may be mounted Fig. l is a side elevation with parts in vertical on or adjacent the instrument panel 4 of the tud al Section; vehicle, in a position convenient to the driver's Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; seat. Fig, 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and 22 indicates a transversely extending plate Fig. 4 is a section like Fig. 3, showing the parts mounted on the hood closure 2, for example upon in a different position. intermediate brackets 23 secured upon the in- Like parts are indicated by likecharacters turned lower edges or flanges 24 of the hood clothroughout the specification and drawings. sure 2. It will be understood, of course, that any Referring to the drawings, I generally indicates suitable securing and supporting means may be an automobile hood and 2 a closure therefor, employed. Iillustrate the member 22 as mounted transversely and horizontally hinged at its rear for longitudinal adjustment and for that purpose end as at 3. It will be understood, however, that I provide adjusting slots 25 through which pass the hinge shown is diagrammatic and that any any suitable securing bolts 26 whereby the memsuitable mounting for the rear end of the closure her 22 is secured upon the upper inner flanges of 2 may be employed. 3 generally indicates the the brackets 23. The transversely extending instrument panel of the vehicle. It will be unmember 22-15 downwardly ofiset as at 21, which derstood that in the claims, however, I may emofiset may serve as a reinforcing means and is ploy the term hood to indicate the hood clonot in general essential. It is also provided with sure 2, since it cooperates with the normally fixed reinforcing flanges 28, shown as upwardly exportlon to constitute a complete hood or entending. closure for the engine. Mounted on the downwardly offset central por- Mounted on the hood I is a member which I tion 21 is a combined centering and locking k l may call a bottom plate, generally indicated at er 29, which may for example be formed of rod 6 and shown in some detail for example in Figs. 2 stock screw threaded as at 30 and held in posiand following. It is illustrated as having a transtion by upper and lower nuts 3|, 32. It has seversely elongated aperture I surrounded by a cured or formed at its lower enda sp ar head, or downwardly turned flange 8. The plate 6 may downwardly pointed cone 33 having a generally horizontal upper ledge or locking keeper 24 adapted to receive the lever or looking member l5, for example when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3.

I provide a secondary or safety latching means which includes a lever or hook 4| with a latching or hook portion proper 42. The hook member is pivoted as at 10 between cars 44 which may be downwardly struck from the upper transverse plate 22. Any suitable means may be employed for urging the hook 42 normally into vertical alignment with the securing lip 12. I illustrate for example a coil spring 46. The hook is provided also with a finger or handle piece 48, preterably formed integrally therewith, the purpose which will later appear.-

In order to raise the top hood member or closure when the latch is released I illustrate the following structure: A pin 10 performs the double function of serving as a pivot for the safety latch structure 4| and of supporting a lifting spring. including upper side elements ll, 12, which terminate in coils l3, l4, wound about the pivot 10, the coils being extended in the bottom members 15, 16, which are connected at their end as by the cross portion ll.

In the form herein shown I illustrate a onepiece wire spring. It will be understood, as shown in Fig. 3, that the bend ll abuts against the lower plate 6, whereas the portions 1i, I2 abut against the lower face of the downwardly offset 21 of the upper plate 22. Thus, the spring structure described normally tends to raise the closure 2 when the primary latch means is closed.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and illustrated a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my precise showing. For example, whereas I have shown a specific spear shaped rod, it will be understood, that variations in form, shape and material may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I provide a compact structure for carrying a lock or latch which holds the closure portion 2 r of the hood in final locked position, and an additional latch 4| which permit a limited upward movement of the member 2. When the member 2 is moved to the closed position, which is shown for example in Figs. 1 and 3, the lever I5, including the latch portion I4, is urged into looking position by it controlling spring, and the parts are firmly locked. When the operator releases the lever I5 by pulling on the handle 2|,

ano es? vertical alignment with the abutment ledge l2 0! the plate I.

Note that the conic head 33 merges into a cylindrical portion 33a of a length sufllcient to engage and provide a proper bearing with the downtumed flange i of the plate 8. Note that this flange I does not entirely surround the aperture penetrated by the head 33, as the latch member l4 cuts in at one side or end oi! the aperture. The cylindrical portion 33a of the head 33 engages the flange 8 at diametrically opposed sides or the head. The length of the aperture 1 of th plate 8 permits a, certain relative movement of the guiding head and the lower platei in a longitudinal direction. This is important in connection with the upward and downward movement of the closure, and particularly where lever supports, compound hinges, or the like, are employed for the rear end of the hood.

The spring members 12, 16, etc., provide an easily applied and economic lifting means for thrusting the closure 2 up when the latch is released.

I claim:

1. In a hood latching arrangement wherein an encasing portion of the hood is adapted to be normally latched in closed position by a latch mechanism, and a secondary latch is provided, means for normally urging the hood to Partially open condition in opposition to said latch mechanism, including a spring structure having a coiled portion extending about a transverse generally horizontal axis, and spring ends extending radially from said coil portion and opposed respectively to the encasing portion of the hood and to a relatively fixed portion of the vehicle on which the hood is mounted.

2. In a hood latching arrangement wherein an encasing portion of the hood is adapted to be normally latched in closed position by a latch mechanism, and a secondary latch is provided, means for normally urging the hood to partially open condition in opposition to said latch mechanism, including a spring structure having a coiled portion extending about a transverse generally horizontal axis, and spring ends extending radially from said coil portion and opposed respectively to the encasing portion of the hood and to a relatively fixed portion of the vehicle on which the hood is mounted, and a pivot pin about which said spring structure is coiled.

3. In a hood latching arrangement wherein an enoasing portion of the hood is adapted to be normally latched in closed position by a latch mechanism, and a secondary latch is provided. means for normally urging the hood to partially open condition in opposition to said latch mechanism, including a spring structure having a coiled portion extending about a transverse generally horizontal axis, and spring ends extending radially from said coil portion and opposed respectively to the encasing portion of the hood and to a relatively fixed portion of the vehicle on which the hood is mounted, and a pivot pin about which said spring structure is coiled, said secondary latch being pivoted on said pivot pin.

WALTER H. KRAUSE. 

